AP News Summary at 2:37 p.m. EDT

Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO

NEW YORK (AP) — Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He admitted to following Thompson to an investor conference in 2024 and shooting him on a New York City street. The 28-year-old Mangione acknowledged his actions Friday at a hastily scheduled hearing in Manhattan. His lawyers are now seeking to dismiss a separate New York state murder case on double jeopardy grounds. At sentencing, he could face life in prison. The case has become a fulcrum for debate about the healthcare industry and made Mangione a cause célèbre for some of its critics.

Trump asks Supreme Court to let White House ballroom construction continue during appeal

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the White House to continue construction on its $400 million ballroom project while it appeals a lower court's order to halt the work. Chief Justice John Roberts has set a deadline of Tuesday for a response by plaintiffs challenging the ballroom project. Trump's solicitor general on Friday petitioned the high court to suspend last week’s decision by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The divided panel ruled last week the Republican president must stop the White House ballroom's construction because Congress has not approved the project.

Suspect arrested in World War II Memorial vandalism in Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — A suspect has been arrested and will be charged in connection with the vandalism of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. Melissa L. Farris will be charged with “Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans' Memorials,” according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who announced the arrest on Friday on her X account. The offenses carry penalties of up to ten years in prison. The Memorial, one of the most popular in Washington, was vandalized with bubbles filling a fountain and “Clean hands dirty $†written in red paint. The vandalism comes weeks after President Donald Trump said the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was deliberately damaged.

2 UAE tankers attacked while transiting Strait of Hormuz, and other news from the Middle East

The United Arab Emirates has blamed Iran for firing drones at two tankers operated by a state-owned oil company in the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks, described as acts of piracy, caused no casualties but highlighted the dangers in this critical waterway. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry called on Friday the attacks a violation of the United Nations’ principles of freedom of navigation. Meanwhile, activists marched through the occupied West Bank to bring food and water to Palestinians under siege by Israeli settlers. In Yemen, the military claimed to have thwarted Houthi attacks amid ongoing fighting.

Trump set to highlight violent crime reduction during a visit to New York police academy

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to highlight his record on crime and safety during a visit to a New York police academy on Friday. The White House says he will release new FBI crime statistics showing a decrease in violent crime for 2025. Trump's visit is aimed at boosting Republican candidates in closely contested races across his home state. But just how much his presence will help is in question as he faces lagging approval ratings and a deeply unpopular war in Iran with no end in sight. Trump will be joined by Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel in his visit to Nassau County.

Trump says record-setting Navy deployment to support Iran operations ‘not nearly long enough’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump downplays concerns about the USS Abraham Lincoln’s extended deployment in the Middle East. On Friday, Trump refuted reports of mental health and supply issues, saying the more than 260-day deployment is “not nearly long enough.†The Lincoln supports the U.S. war against Iran, and Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Pentagon for accountability over conditions aboard the carrier. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this week said the conditions are “completely misrepresented.†Reports have emerged of mental health struggles among sailors, but the Navy says it has not observed an increase in suicidal ideation. The USS George Washington is expected to replace the Lincoln soon.

AP Exclusive: US military base schools put new emphasis on Western civilization and Christianity

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Defense is introducing a course centered on Western civilization and Christianity this fall in the schools it operates for military families. It’s part of an effort by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to redirect the education system toward patriotic values and classical learning. The Western civilization course planned for this fall will use a textbook published by Encounter Books, a conservative publishing house. Historians and educators who reviewed excerpts of the text told The Associated Press it depicts points throughout history in misleading ways. The text represents Western civilization and Christianity as one and the same and casts Islam as a threat to both, scholars said.

Colombia grapples with rebuilding a shattered nation after a deadly earthquake

CALI, Colombia (AP) — Colombia is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that killed at least 285 people and affected more than 100,000. Tens of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed in Cali, Pereira, and Manizales in the 7.4 magnitude that struck the country’s west on Monday. President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced plans to partner with private companies to rebuild. Aid is slowly reaching affected areas, but many people have to rely on volunteers and neighbors for help. The government is focusing on temporary housing, food, and healthcare as international support continues to arrive.

US missionary kidnapped in Niger is released after 9 months in captivity, his organization says

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — An American missionary kidnapped in Niger in October has been released. Missionary organization SIM International says Kevin Rideout is in good health in the care of U.S. officials. He was kidnapped in Niamey on Oct. 21 by three armed individuals. No group has claimed responsibility. Niger has faced attacks from armed groups including those linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State. The U.S. Embassy in Niamey issued a security alert after Rideout’s kidnapping. Niger is currently ruled by a military junta that took power in 2023, ousting Western partners and aligning with Russia.

Wall Street holds near its record following the latest weak update on the US economy

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are drifting near their all-time high following the latest economic report to come in surprisingly weak. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% Friday from its record set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 131 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.5%. Stocks gave up modest gains from earlier in the morning after oil prices swung higher. Also raising uncertainty was a report showing shoppers spent less at U.S. retailers last month. Such data could keep interest rates low, which is something Wall Street loves, but it also raises the risk of a slowing economic growth when inflation is still high.